No. 2 Mount Union Blanks Capital at Homecoming
ALLIANCE, Ohio -- Mount Union sophomore running back Jeremy Murray (Martins Ferry/Martins Ferry) rushed 34 times for 158 yards and three touchdowns while sophomore quarterback Neal Seaman (Louisville/Louisville) completed 19 of 23 passes for 248 yards, leading the No. 2-ranked Purple Raiders to a 38-0 Homecoming victory over Capital on Saturday at Mount Union Stadium.
The Purple Raiders posted their 50th consecutive regular season victory as they move to 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Murray finished off the game's initial scoring drive with a 10-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. The seven-play, 57-yard march, which saw Murray run four times for 30 yards, put the Raiders ahead 7-0.
Seaman and junior wide receiver Brandon Brown (Merrillville, Ind./Cincinnati Harmony Prep) were featured on Mount Union's next drive to paydirt, hooking up three times for 43 yards, and culminated in a 4-yard touchdown catch by Brown, which helped the hosts take a 14-point lead.
Sophomore receiver Jasper Collins (Geneva, N.Y./Geneva) ran a punt back 47 yards for the next Raider score and sophomore kicker Tyler Almeida (Elyria/Elyria) tacked on a 33-yard field goal as Mount Union took a 24-0 advantage into the locker room.
The Purple Raider defense did need to make one big stop before the intermission. The Crusaders had moved deep into Mount Union territory, but a pass by Capital quarterback Marty Assmann was intercepted by Raider junior defensive back Alex Ferrara at the Mount Union 5-yard line.
Murray added touchdown carries from the 3- and 1-yard lines in the second half -- the latter being set up by Ferrara's second interception.
In total yards, Mount Union outgained Capital, 413-72.
Senior tight end Kyle Miller (Elida/Elida) gained 61 yards on six reception for the Purple Raiders. Brown had five receptions for 71 yards and the score while Collins made four grabs for 87 yards.
The Purple Raider defense made three sacks of Crusader quarterback Kory Hartinger.
Senior defensive lineman Lambert Budzinski (Canton/Massillon Jackson) led the charge with eight tackles, including two sacks.
Freshman defensive lineman Nyejel Thomas (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) also recorded a sack and junior linebacker Jorge Carbonell (Miami, Fla./Bishop Carroll) forced a fumble which was recovered by junior defensive lineman (Blacklick/Columbus-St. Charles Prep).
In total, the Raiders made eight tackles-for-loss, which totaled 26 yards.
Seaman himself was sacked three times and intercepted once.
The Purple Raiders will return to action next Saturday when they visit Otterbein at 1:30 p.m.
